JP5953979B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints a print target on a print medium.

  Various printing apparatuses that set the arrangement of print targets in accordance with the use of printed print media have been proposed. For example, in the print control apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is assumed that a printed print medium is wound around a cable-shaped member, and the same character string formed along the width direction of the print tape is placed at both ends of the label longitudinal direction. Print each one.

JP 2004-148762 A

  In the print control device described in Patent Document 1, the positions where the print objects are arranged are determined at both ends in the label longitudinal direction, and thus the print objects are not necessarily arranged at the positions intended by the user. For this reason, when a printed print medium is wound around a cable-shaped member, the print target may not be printed at a desired position.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus that can set the arrangement of a print target when a printed print medium is arranged along a curved surface of a cylinder.

  A printing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that prints a print target on a print medium, and specifies the circumferential length of the cylinder when the print medium is arranged along a curved surface of the cylinder. A circumferential length specifying means, a print target specifying means for specifying the print target, and a plane orthogonal to the central axis of the cylinder when the print target is arranged on the print medium along the curved surface. An angle specifying means for specifying an angle formed by a reference line segment connecting a central axis line and a reference point on the curved surface, and a target line segment connecting the central axis line and the representative point of the print target; and the circumference An arrangement determining unit configured to determine an arrangement of the print target specified by the print target specifying unit based on the length of the circumference specified by the length specifying unit and the angle specified by the angle specifying unit;

  According to the printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the arrangement of the print target assuming that the printed print medium is arranged along the cylindrical curved surface is assumed to be a plane orthogonal to the central axis of the cylinder. decide. The printing apparatus can determine the arrangement of the print target in consideration of the angle between the reference line segment and the target line segment and the circumference of the cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 1 with a cover 6 opened and the tape cassette 30 that is attached to and detached from the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1. It is the schematic which shows the process in which the printed heat shrink tape 57 is heat-fixed to the cable 60. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of the first print object 73 and the second print object 74 on the reference surface 81 with the cross section in the direction of the arrow in the BB line of FIG. 3 as the reference surface 81. 3 is a flowchart of print processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of first print processing executed in the print processing of FIG. 5. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of arrangement | positioning of the printing object on a printing area | region set according to the printing process of 1st and 2nd embodiment, and arrangement | positioning of the printing object on a reference plane. It is a flowchart of the size specifying process of the printing target executed in the printing process of the third embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of arrangement | positioning of the printing object on a printing area | region set according to the printing process of 3rd and 4th Embodiment, and arrangement | positioning of the printing object on a reference plane. It is a flowchart of the angle specific process performed by the printing process of 4th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, first to fourth embodiments of the present invention will be described in order with reference to the drawings. With reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of the printing apparatus 1 common to the first to fourth embodiments will be described. In the following description, the upper right side, lower left side, lower right side, upper left side, upper side, and lower side in FIG. 1 are defined as the rear side, the front side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side of the printing apparatus 1, respectively. In FIGS. 4, 7, and 9, the layout of the print target on the reference surface is illustrated, the illustration of the mounting target is omitted, and the print range of the print target is schematically shown by a bold line. The unit of length is mm.

  The printing apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus capable of printing characters (characters, symbols, numbers, and the like) in units of lines in the width direction of the tape-shaped print medium 50 (the direction indicated by the arrow 71). As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 3 for inputting characters including an Enter key 11 is provided on the upper surface of the printing apparatus 1. A function key group 4 including a power key, a determination key, a print key, an up / down / left / right key 12, an angle setting key 13, and the like is provided on the rear side (upper right side of the drawing) of the keyboard 3. In the following description, the function key group 4 and the keyboard 3 are collectively referred to as the operation unit 2. On the rear side of the function key group 4, a display 5 for displaying an input character or the like is provided. A cover 6 that can be opened and closed is provided at the rear of the upper surface of the printing apparatus 1. The cover 6 can be opened and closed with the left-right direction of the rear end portion of the cover 6 as a fulcrum. A tape tray 7 that receives the cut printed print medium 50 is provided at the left rear corner of the printing apparatus 1.

  A cassette mounting portion 8 is provided on the rear side of the display 5. A tape cassette 30 is attached to and detached from the cassette mounting portion 8 in the vertical direction. Inside the tape cassette 30, a print medium 50 and an ink ribbon (not shown) are wound and stored. The print medium 50 is, for example, a label tape that is provided with release paper on one side and can be peeled off and attached to another object. The cassette mounting portion 8 of the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a ribbon take-up shaft 9, a tape drive shaft (not shown), a platen roller (not shown), a thermal head 10 (see FIG. 2), and the like. The ribbon take-up shaft 9 takes up the ink ribbon. The tape drive shaft conveys the print medium 50. The thermal head 10 performs printing by heating the ink ribbon.

  When the printing apparatus 1 performs printing, the print medium 50 is conveyed by the tape drive shaft and the platen roller while the ribbon is drawn out by the ribbon take-up shaft 9. Then, while the print medium 50 and the ink ribbon are pressed against the thermal head 10 by the platen roller, printing is performed on the print medium 50 via the ink ribbon by the thermal head 10. The printed print medium 50 is cut by a moving blade (not shown) provided on the conveyance path of the print medium 50 and discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus 1.

  Various tape cassettes 30 can be mounted on the cassette mounting portion 8. The tape cassette 30 includes an indicator portion 800 that indicates the type of the tape cassette 30. The indicator portion 800 includes at least one hole portion 801 provided in a prescribed pattern according to the type of tape. Each hole 801 is provided at a position corresponding to one of five detection switches (not shown) provided in the detection unit 23 (see FIG. 2) provided in the printing apparatus 1. Therefore, when the tape cassette 30 is mounted on the printing apparatus 1, the detection switch is selectively pressed by the indicator unit 800. In the printing apparatus 1, the type of the tape cassette 30 is detected based on the on / off combination of the detection switches at this time.

  The electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a CGROM 403, a RAM 404, and a flash memory 409. The ROM 402, CGROM 403, RAM 404, and flash memory 409 are electrically connected to the CPU 401, respectively.

  The ROM 402 stores various programs necessary for controlling the printing apparatus 1. The CPU 401 performs various calculations based on these programs. In the CGROM 403, printing dot pattern data for printing various characters is classified according to format and size and stored in correspondence with code data. Therefore, if the character, format, and size are determined, the printing apparatus 1 can specify the size of the print target. The RAM 404 is provided with a plurality of storage areas such as a text memory and a print buffer. Data to be printed input from the keyboard 3 is stored in the text memory. The print buffer stores a print dot pattern to be printed. In the other storage area, various calculation data and the like are stored.

  The flash memory 409 includes a tape type table 410, a set value storage area 411, and other storage areas 412. The tape type table 410 is a table in which attributes of the tape cassette 30 are defined in association with IDs that are determined in advance corresponding to the detection results of the detection unit 23. In the tape type table 410, for example, the width, type, and the like of the tape cassette 30 are defined in association with each of a plurality of types of IDs. The width is the width of the tape that is the print medium (the length in the direction indicated by the arrow 71 in FIG. 1 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction). The type indicates the material and mode of the tape. Types include, for example, laminates, receptors, heat shrinkage, and fabrics. “Laminate” refers to a mode in which a double-sided adhesive tape is bonded to the printed surface after printing on a resin transparent film tape. “Receptor” refers to a mode in which printing is performed on a single-sided adhesive tape made of resin. “Heat shrinkage” refers to a mode in which printing is performed on a cylindrical tape formed of a surface formed of a material that heat-shrinks when heated and a surface formed of a material that does not heat-shrink. “Cloth” refers to an aspect in which printing is performed on a cloth tape having a heat-sensitive adhesive applied on one side. The setting value storage area 411 stores various setting values including the size of the margin used in the process of specifying the print area. The other storage area 412 stores various calculation data and the like.

  The printing apparatus 1 further includes a detection unit 23, an operation unit 2, a liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC) 405, and drive circuits 406 to 408. The detection unit 23, the operation unit 2, the liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC) 405, and the drive circuits 406 to 408 are electrically connected to the CPU 401, respectively. The drive circuit 406 is an electronic circuit for driving the thermal head 10. The drive circuit 407 is an electronic circuit for driving the tape feed motor 24 that rotates the ribbon take-up shaft 9 (see FIG. 1) and the tape drive shaft (not shown). The drive circuit 408 is an electronic circuit for driving the cutter motor 25 that operates a moving blade (not shown) that cuts the printed print medium 50 discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus 1. A liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC) 405 is an electronic circuit for outputting characters and the like to the display 5.

  Next, an overview of the printing process executed in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The printing apparatus 1 has a function in which a user designates an arrangement of a print target when a printed print medium is arranged along a curved surface of a cylinder. The curved surface here may be a real curved surface such as a side surface of a cable or a virtual curved surface. The placement of the print target is performed by designating the diameter of the cylinder and the placement angle of the print target on a plane orthogonal to the central axis of the cylinder (hereinafter also referred to as “reference plane”). The arrangement angle represents an angle formed by the reference line segment and the target line segment. The reference line segment is a line segment that connects the central axis line and the reference point on the curved surface of the cylinder on the reference surface. The target line segment is a line segment connecting the central axis of the cylinder and the representative point to be printed on the reference plane. The reference point, reference line, reference plane, and representative point can be set as appropriate.

  As an example, a case where a printed heat-shrink tape 57 is heat-fixed to the side surface 61 of the cable 60 as shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The heat-shrinkable tape 57 includes a surface 59 (hereinafter also referred to as “shrinkable surface 59”) formed of a material that heat-shrinks when heated, and a surface 58 (hereinafter referred to as “non-shrinkable”) that is formed of a material that does not shrink by heating. It is also referred to as a “shrink surface 58”). The heat-shrinkable tape 57 is accommodated in the tape cassette 30 in a state of being flattened so that the non-shrinkable surface 58 becomes the printing surface and the shrinkable surface 59 becomes the back surface. The printed heat-shrink tape 57 is discharged from the tape cassette 30, cut, and then unfolded as indicated by C1 in FIG. As shown by C2 in FIG. 3, after the cable 60, which is a mounting object, is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tape 57 that is expanded in a cylindrical shape, the cable 60 is heated by a dryer or the like. As a result, the contraction surface 59 of the heat-shrink tape 57 contracts, and the heat-shrink tape 57 is fixed to the side surface 61 of the cable 60, as indicated by C3 in FIG.

  Various conditions (hereinafter also referred to as “arrangement setting conditions”) for setting the arrangement of the print target when the printed print medium is arranged along the curved surface of the cylinder may be set in advance. The user may specify. In the first embodiment, the arrangement setting conditions are set in advance as follows. In the following description, the circumferential direction of the cylinder (curved surface) when the printed print medium is arranged along the curved surface of the cylinder among the directions representing the size of the print medium (print region) and the print target (FIG. 3). The direction corresponding to the direction indicated by the arrow 161 is also referred to as a circumference-corresponding direction. The directions representing the size of the print medium (print area) are the width direction and the length direction of the print medium (print area). The direction representing the size of the print target is the height direction of the print target (for example, the vertical direction of the horizontal character) and the length direction (for example, the horizontal direction of the horizontal character). Corresponding to the extending direction of the cylinder (curved surface) (the direction indicated by the arrow 162 in FIG. 3) when the printed print medium is arranged along the curved surface of the cylinder, among the directions representing the size of the print medium and the print target. The direction to perform is also referred to as a stretchable direction.

  The width direction of the heat-shrinkable tape 57 (the direction indicated by the arrow 71) is the direction corresponding to the circumference. The longitudinal direction of the heat-shrinkable tape 57 (the direction indicated by the arrow 72) is the direction corresponding to stretching. The printing apparatus 1 specifies the first print target 73 and the second print target 74 based on one print target designated by the user (character “Cable A” in FIG. 3). The second print target 74 is a character obtained by rotating the first print target 73 by 180 degrees. The direction corresponding to the circumference of the print target is the height direction of the print target. The printing apparatus 1 has a center line 49 in the height direction of the first print object 73 and a height direction of the second print object 74 in parallel with the center line 41 across the center line 41 in the width direction of the heat shrink tape 57. Center line 51 is arranged. The reference point is a center line 49 (the center point 77 in FIG. 4) in the height direction of the first print object 73 on the reference surface. The representative point is the center line 51 (the center point 79 in FIG. 4) in the height direction of the second print object 74 on the reference plane. The user designates an angle 63 formed by the reference line segment 78 and the target line segment 80. In the reference plane 81, a line segment 76 connecting the center axis 62 and the center line 41 (point 75) corresponds to the corner 63 for the time being.

  The printing process according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The processing shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is started when the printing apparatus 1 is turned on and data to be printed is input via the operation unit 2, and is executed by the CPU 401 according to a program stored in the ROM 402. Is done. Data obtained in the course of processing is stored in the RAM 404 as appropriate. As a specific example 1, it is assumed that the print target is the character “Cable A”, the arrangement angle is 120 degrees, and the cable diameter is 12 mm. As specific example 2, it is assumed that the print target is the character “Cable A”, the arrangement angle is 180 degrees, and the cable diameter is 12 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the printing process, it is first determined whether or not to end the printing process (S1). The printing apparatus 1 ends the printing process when the power is turned off (S1: YES). When the power is not turned off (S1: NO), it is determined whether or not the angle setting key 13 is pressed (S3). When the angle setting key 13 is pressed (S3: YES), a first printing process described later is executed (S5), and the process returns to S1. When a text input key (not shown) is pressed (S3: NO, S7: YES), a text input process is executed (S9), and the process returns to S1. In specific examples 1 and 2, in S9, the character “Cable A” input by the user operating the keyboard 3 is accepted as a print target. When a print key (not shown) is pressed (S3: NO, S7: NO, S11: YES), the second print process is executed (S13), and the process returns to S1. In the second print process, a process of printing the text input in S9 on a print medium is executed. When another key is pressed (S3: NO, S7: NO, S11: NO), another process corresponding to the pressed key is executed (S15), and the process returns to S1.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the first printing process executed in S5 of FIG. 5 will be described. In the first printing process, first, a printing target is specified (S19). In specific examples 1 and 2, the character “Cable A” input in the text input process of S9 of FIG. 5 is specified as the first print target. Further, a character obtained by rotating the first print target by 180 degrees is specified as the second print target.

  Next, a setting screen is displayed on the LCD 5 (S21). The setting screen includes a cursor, a diameter input field, and an angle input field. The diameter input field is a field for inputting the cable diameter numerically. The angle input column is a column for inputting the arrangement angle by a numerical value. The cursor is moved to the diameter input field or the angle input field by the up / down / left / right key 12. The numerical value in the column selected by the cursor can be changed by the up / down / left / right key 12.

  Next, when the Enter key 11 is pressed (S23: YES), the process of S25 described later is executed. When the cursor is placed in the diameter input field and the up / down / left / right key 12 is operated and the numerical value in the diameter input field is changed (S23: NO, S31: YES), the changed value is the cable diameter. Identified. Based on the specified cable diameter, the circumference of the cable is specified (S33). In specific examples 1 and 2, 12 mm is input as the diameter of the cable 60, and 38 mm (= 12 mm × circumferential ratio) is specified as the circumferential length of the cable 60. Next, the process returns to S23.

  When the cursor is placed in the angle input field and the up / down / left / right key 12 is operated and the numerical value in the angle input field is changed (S23: NO, S31: NO, S35: YES), the changed numerical value is displayed. Based on this, an angle is specified (S37). In specific example 1, it is specified that the arrangement angle is 120 degrees. In specific example 2, it is specified that the arrangement angle is 180 degrees. Next, the process returns to S23.

  When any key other than the Enter key 11 and the up / down / left / right key 12 is operated (S23: NO, S31: NO, S35: NO), the process returns to S23. In S25, the size of the print target specified in S19 is specified (S25). In the present embodiment, the height PTH and the length PTL of the print target are specified as the size of the print target. In the first embodiment, the size of the first print target and the second print target are the same. The sizes of the first print target and the second print target are specified based on the character specified in S <b> 19, the format, the size, and the setting value stored in the CGROM 403. In specific examples 1 and 2, as the sizes of the first print object 73 and the second print object 74, the height PTH is specified as 5 mm and the length PTL is specified as 22 mm.

  Next, the size of the print area is specified (S27). In the first embodiment, first, the size of the print medium is specified, and an area obtained by subtracting a predetermined margin from the size of the print medium is set as a print area. The size of the print medium is represented by the width PMW and the length PML of the print medium. The width PMW is specified based on the ID specified based on the signal output from the detection unit 23 and the tape type table 410 stored in the flash memory 409. The length PML is a value obtained by adding a preset length PL (for example, 13 mm) to the print target length PTL specified in S25. The size of the print area is represented by the width PAW and the length PAL of the print area. In order to simplify the description, the margin is set to 0 mm in this embodiment. Therefore, in specific examples 1 and 2, the size of the print area is specified as a width PAW of 24 mm and a length PAL of 35 mm.

Next, an interval D between the first print object 73 and the second print object 74 in the width direction of the heat shrink tape 57 (the direction indicated by the arrow 71) is set (S29). The distance D (mm) is calculated based on the formula (1).
Interval D (mm) = (circumference length specified in S33 (mm)) × (angle specified in S37 (degrees)) / (360 (degrees)) (1)
In the first specific example, the interval D is 13 mm. In specific example 2, the distance D is 19 mm.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the sum of the interval D and the length PTCL in the circumference corresponding direction of the print target is smaller than the length PACL in the circumference corresponding direction of the print area (S39). The process of S39 is a process for determining whether or not a print target can be arranged in the print area. The length PTCL in the first embodiment is the height PTH to be printed, and the length PACL is the width PAW of the print area. When the sum of the interval D and the height PTH is smaller than the width PAW (S39: YES), the CPU 401 can arrange the print target specified in S19 in the print area based on the interval D set in S29. . Therefore, based on the circumference specified in S33, the angle specified in S35, and the size of the print medium specified in S27, the representative point (center point 79) and the reference point (center point 77) are determined. The distance between them is set to the interval D, and the print target is arranged in the print area (S41).

  In the specific example 1, the sum of the distance D and the height PTH is 18 mm, which is smaller than the width PAW of 24 mm (S39: YES). Accordingly, the first print object 73 and the second print object 74 are arranged as shown by C11 in FIG. 7 (S41). As shown in C11 of FIG. 7, the print area 40 has a width PAW set to 24 mm and a length PAL set to 35 mm. A center line 49 in the height direction of the first print object 73 is disposed at a position below the space D / 2 (the length indicated by the arrow 42) from the center line 41 in the width direction of the print area 40. A center line 51 in the height direction of the second print object 74 is arranged at a position above the space D 2 (the length indicated by the arrow 43) from the center line 41 in the width direction of the print region 40. The distance between the center line 49 and the center line 51 is a distance D. Such an arrangement is, for example, that the center line 49 in the height direction of the first print object 73 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the center line 41 by a distance D / 2, and then spaced from the center line 49 to the top of the sheet. You may implement | achieve by arrange | positioning the center line 51 of the height direction of the 2nd printing object 74 in the position of D distance. Further, for example, the first print object 73 and the second print object 74 are regarded as one print object in a state where the distance between the center line 49 and the center line 51 is set to the interval D, and the one print object is regarded as a circle. You may implement | achieve by centering with respect to the circumference corresponding | compatible direction. The positions of the first printing object 73 and the second printing object 74 in the extension-corresponding direction are centered with respect to the printing area 40. When the printed heat-shrink tape 57 is fixed to the cable 60 by heating, the angle 63 formed by the reference line segment 78 and the target line segment 80 on the reference plane is 120 degrees.

  When the sum of the interval D and the length PTCL (height PTH) in the circumference-corresponding direction to be printed is equal to or greater than the length PACL (width PAW) in the circumference-corresponding direction of the print area (S39: NO) The apparatus 1 cannot fit the print target in the print area. Therefore, the interval D is reset so that the sum of the print target circumferential length PTCL (height PTH) is smaller than the circumferential length PACL (width PAW) of the print area. (S43). In the specific example 2, the sum of the distance D and the height PTH is 24 mm, which is equal to the width PAW of 24 mm (S39: NO). When the interval D is set in units of 1 mm in the printing apparatus 1, the interval D is reset to 18 mm (S43). Next, the distance between the center line 49 and the center line 51 is set to the interval D set in S43, and the print target is placed in the print area (S45). In the specific example 2, it is arranged like C12 in FIG.

  As indicated by C12 in FIG. 7, a center line 49 is disposed at a position below the center line 41 by a distance D / 2 in the width direction of the print region 40. A center line 51 is arranged at a position above the center line 41 by a distance D / 2 paper. As a result, the distance between the center line 49 and the center line 51 is the distance D (18 mm). When the printed heat-shrink tape 57 is heated and fixed to the cable 60, the angle 163 formed by the reference line segment 178 on the reference plane and the target line segment 180 is 171 degrees that is relatively close to 180 degrees input by the user. It becomes.

  Next to S41 or S45, printing is executed with the arrangement determined in S41 or S45 (S47). The first printing process ends as described above, and the process returns to the printing process of FIG.

  In the printing process of the first embodiment, assuming that the printed heat-shrink tape 57 is heated and fixed to the cable 60 having a cylindrical curved surface as a side surface, the user inputs an arrangement angle and a diameter of the cable 60. . The printing apparatus 1 has a reference point (center point 77) and a reference point 81 (center point 77) so that the reference line segment 78 and the target line segment 80 are at an input angle on a reference plane 81 orthogonal to the center axis line 62 of the cylindrical cable 60. The distance between the representative point (center point 79) is set. Therefore, the user can easily set the arrangement of the print target when it is assumed that the printed print medium is arranged along the cylindrical curved surface. The printing apparatus 1 arranges the first print object 73 and the second print object 74 in the print area when the distance between the reference point and the representative point is set based on the arrangement angle specified by the user. If this is not possible, the interval D is reset. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can reliably arrange the first print object 73 and the second print object 74 in the print area while considering the arrangement angle specified by the user.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a printing process executed by the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. Although not shown, the printing process of the second embodiment is basically the same as the printing process of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, since the arrangement setting conditions in the second embodiment are different from those in the first embodiment, the processing in S19, the processing in S27, and the processing in S39 to S45 in FIG. 6 are different. Hereinafter, a description of processes similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and processes different from those of the first embodiment will be described. The printing process according to the second embodiment is started when the printing apparatus 1 is turned on and data to be printed is input via the operation unit 2, and is executed by the CPU 401 according to a program stored in the ROM 402. The

  First, arrangement setting conditions in the second embodiment will be described. The printing medium is a laminate type printing tape. The user can select the printing tape (printing area) and the direction corresponding to the circumference of the printing target. The printing apparatus 1 specifies the first print target and the second print target based on one print target designated by the user. Unlike the first embodiment, the first print target and the second print target have the same orientation. The printing apparatus 1 has a center line in the circumference-corresponding direction of the first print object and a center line in the circumference-corresponding direction of the second print object in parallel with the center line across the center line in the circumference-corresponding direction of the printing tape Place. The reference point is the center point in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the first print target on the reference surface. The representative point is the center point in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the second print target on the reference plane.

  As specific example 3, the print target is the character “Cable A”, the arrangement angle is 120 degrees, the cable diameter is 12 mm, the circumferential direction of the print tape is the length direction of the print tape, Assume that the circumference direction of the target is the height direction of the print target. As specific example 4, the print target is the character “PC”, the arrangement angle is 120 degrees, the cable diameter is 12 mm, the circumferential direction of the print tape is the length direction of the print tape, and the print target Suppose that the circumference corresponding direction is the length direction of the print target.

  In S19 of FIG. 6, a print target is specified (S19). In the third specific example, the character “Cable A” input in the text input process of S <b> 9 in FIG. 5 is specified as the first print target 273 and the second print target 274. In the fourth specific example, the character “PC” is specified as the first print target 275 and the second print target 276.

  In S27 of FIG. 6, the size of the print area is specified (S27). In the second embodiment, first, the size of the print medium is specified, and an area obtained by subtracting a predetermined margin from the size of the print medium is set as a print area. The size of the print medium is represented by the width PMW and the length PML of the print medium. The width PMW is specified similarly to the method of the first embodiment. The method for specifying the length PML differs depending on the direction corresponding to the circumference of the printing tape. When the direction corresponding to the circumference of the printing tape is the width direction of the printing tape, the length PML is specified as in the first embodiment. When the direction corresponding to the circumference of the printing tape is the length direction of the printing tape, the length PML adds a preset length BS (for example, 5 mm) to the circumference specified in S33. Value. The length BS is set assuming a portion where the print tapes overlap when the print tape is wound around the cable. That is, in the present embodiment, when the direction corresponding to the circumference of the printing tape is the length direction of the printing tape, the length of the printing medium is set so that the printing tape can wind one or more turns on the side surface of the cable. The size of the print area is represented by the width PAW and the length PAL of the print area. In order to simplify the description, the margin is set to 0 mm in the second embodiment. When the printing tape is wound around the cable, the portion disposed on the lower side of the above-described overlapping portion is covered with the portion disposed on the upper side, and thus is not included in the printing region. Therefore, in the specific examples 3 and 4, the size of the print area is specified as the width PAW of 24 mm and the length PAL of 38 mm (= circumference length).

  In S39 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the sum of the interval D and the length PTCL in the circumference corresponding direction of the print target is smaller than the length PACL in the circumference corresponding direction of the print area (S39). The length PTCL of the specific example 3 is the height PTH to be printed, and the length PACL is the length PAL of the print area. Therefore, in the specific example 3, the sum of the distance D and the height PTH is 18 mm, which is smaller than the length PAL of 38 mm (S39: YES). Therefore, the distance between the representative point and the reference point is set as the interval D based on the circumference specified in S33, the angle specified in S35, and the size of the print medium specified in S27. As shown in C13 of FIG. 7, the first print object 273 and the second print object 274 are arranged in the print area 240 (S41).

  As shown in C13 of FIG. 7, the print area 240 has a width PAW set to 24 mm and a length PAL set to 38 mm. A center line 249 in the height direction of the first print object 273 is disposed at a position to the right of the space D / 2 from the center line 241 in the length direction of the print region 240. A center line 251 in the height direction of the second print target 274 is arranged at a position to the left of the space D / 2 from the center line 241 in the length direction of the print area. The distance between the center line 249 (reference point) and the center line 251 (representative point) is a distance D. When the printed printing tape 257 is wound around the cable 60, the angle 263 formed by the reference line segment 278 and the target line segment 280 on the reference surface is 120 degrees.

  Similarly, the length PTCL of the specific example 4 is the length PTL to be printed, and the length PACL is the length PAL of the print area. Since the sum of the distance D and the length PTL is 19 mm and is smaller than the length PAL of 38 mm (S39: YES), the first print object 275 and the second print object 276 are as shown by C14 in FIG. Be placed. As shown at C14 in FIG. 7, a center line 252 in the length direction of the first print object 275 is arranged at a position to the right of the space D / 2 from the center line 241. A center line 253 in the length direction of the second print object 276 is arranged at a position to the left of the space D / 2 from the center line 241. The distance between the center line 252 (reference point) and the center line 253 (representative point) is a distance D. When the printed printing tape 257 is wound around the cable 60, the angle 264 formed by the reference line segment 281 and the target line segment 282 on the reference plane is 120 degrees.

  When the sum of the distance D and the length PTCL is equal to or longer than the length PACL (S39: YES), the distance D is reset (S43) as in the first embodiment, and the arrangement is determined (S45).

  In the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the user can select the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print area and the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print target. Therefore, in the printing apparatus 1, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom when arranging the print target in the print area. When the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print medium is the length direction of the print medium, the length PML of the print medium can be set to a length that allows the print medium to wind the cable one or more times.

  With reference to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, the printing process executed by the printing apparatus 1 of the third embodiment will be described. Although not shown, the printing process of the third embodiment is different in the printing process of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 from the process of S19 and the process of S25 in FIG. 6, and the other processes are the same. Processing different from the printing processing of the first embodiment will be described, and description of processing similar to the printing processing of the first embodiment will be omitted. The printing process according to the third embodiment is started when power is turned on in the printing apparatus 1 and data to be printed is input via the operation unit 2, and is executed by the CPU 401 according to a program stored in the ROM 402. .

  In the third embodiment, the arrangement setting conditions are set in advance as follows. The print medium is a heat shrinkable tape. In the explanatory view shown in FIG. 3, the width direction of the heat-shrink tape 57 is the direction corresponding to the circumference. The longitudinal direction of the heat shrinkable tape 57 is the direction corresponding to stretching. The printing apparatus 1 specifies the number N (N is a natural number) of print targets specified by the user based on one print target specified by the user. Unlike the first embodiment, all N print targets have the same orientation. The printing apparatus 1 arranges the center lines of the Nth printing target in parallel with the center line of the heat shrink tape 57 in the width direction. The reference point is the center line in the height direction of the Nth print target on the reference surface. The representative point is the center line in the height direction of the (N + 1) th printing target on the reference plane. As a specific example 5, in addition to the conditions of the specific example 1 described above, a case where 2 is designated as the number N is assumed.

  In S19, the number N of print targets specified by the user is specified based on one print target specified by the user. In the fifth specific example, the character “Cable A” is specified as the first print target 373 and the second print target 374.

  In S25, the print target size specifying process shown in FIG. 8 is executed. As shown in FIG. 8, the print object size specifying process First, the value S obtained by dividing the number N of print objects and the length of the print area in the circumferential direction by the number N of print objects is specified (S51). ). The length in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print area in the third embodiment is the width PAW of the heat shrinkable tape 57. When the width PAW is 24 mm, the value S of Specific Example 5 is 12 mm (= 24 mm / 2), which is larger than 10 mm (S53: YES). Therefore, 7 mm is set as the height PTH of the first print object 373 and the second print object 374 (S55). That is, the character sizes of the first print target 373 and the second print target 374 are set. As a result, the size of the entire print target is determined. In the specific example 5, when the height PTH is 7 mm, the length PTL is specified to be 30 mm. When the value S is 8 mm or more and less than 10 mm (S53: NO, S57: YES), 5 mm is set as the height PTH (S59). In S59, the length PTL corresponding to the case where the height PTH is 5 mm is further specified. When the value S is less than 8 mm (S53: NO, S57: NO), 3 mm is set as the height PTH (S61). In S61, the length PTL corresponding to the case where the height PTH is 3 mm is further specified. Subsequent to S55, S59, or S61, the process for specifying the size of the print target ends.

  By the printing process of the third embodiment, the first print target 373 and the second print target 374 of Specific Example 5 are arranged as shown in C21 of FIG. As shown in C21 of FIG. 9, the print area 340 has a width PAW set to 24 mm and a length PWL set to 43 mm (= 30 mm + 13 mm). The height PTH of the first print object 373 and the second print object 374 is 7 mm. The distance between the center line 349 (reference point) in the height direction of the first print object 373 and the center line 351 (representative point) in the height direction of the second print object 374 is a distance D. When the printed heat-shrink tape 57 is heated and fixed to the cable 60, the angle 363 formed by the reference line segment 378 and the target line segment 380 on the reference plane is 120 degrees.

  According to the printing apparatus 1 of the third embodiment, the size of the print target can be appropriately set in consideration of the number of print targets and the size of the print area. For this reason, the printing apparatus 1 can reliably avoid a situation in which the size of the print target is too large or too small relative to the size of the print area. Further, the printing apparatus 1 can save the user from setting the size of the print target.

  With reference to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, the printing process executed by the printing apparatus 1 of the fourth embodiment will be described. Although not shown, the printing process of the fourth embodiment differs from the printing process of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in the following points. In the printing process of the fourth embodiment, the angle specifying process shown in FIG. 10 is executed before S19 of FIG. In the printing process of the fourth embodiment, when S35 and S37 in FIG. 6 are not executed and a key other than the Enter key 11 and the up / down / left / right key 12 is operated (S23: NO, S31: NO), the process is as follows. Return to S23. Processing different from the printing processing of the first embodiment will be described, and description of processing similar to the printing processing of the first embodiment will be omitted. The printing process according to the fourth embodiment is started when the printing apparatus 1 is turned on and data to be printed is input via the operation unit 2, and is executed by the CPU 401 according to a program stored in the ROM 402. The

  In the fourth embodiment, the setting arrangement conditions are set in advance as follows. The printing medium is a laminate type printing tape. The longitudinal direction of the printing tape is the direction corresponding to the circumference. The width direction of the printing tape is the direction corresponding to stretching. The printing apparatus 1 sets the number N of print objects and the arrangement angle of the print objects according to the size of the character to be printed and the circumference of the cable. The printing apparatus 1 specifies N print targets based on one print target designated by the user. When N is 1, the reference point for the Nth print target is a point on the center line in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print area. When N is 2 or more, it is set as the center point in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the (N-1) th printing target. The representative point is the center point in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the Nth print target on the reference plane. When the printing target is a character extending over a plurality of lines, the printing apparatus 1 sets the size of the printing target to the size of the entire character on the plurality of lines.

  As specific example 6, it is assumed that the print target is the character “Cable A”, the print target height PTH is 5 mm, and the cable diameter is 12 mm. As specific example 7, it is assumed that the print target is the character “Cable (line feed) PC”, the print target height PTH is 13 mm, and the cable diameter is 12 mm.

  In the printing process of the fourth embodiment, the angle specifying process shown in FIG. 10 is executed before S19 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, in the angle specifying process, first, a value R is calculated by dividing the length of the print target in the circumference-corresponding direction by the length of the print area in the circumference-corresponding direction (S71). The length of the print target in the circumferential direction in the fourth embodiment is the height PTH of the print target. The length of the print area in the circumferential direction is the print area length PAL. In Example 6, the height PTH is 5 mm, and the value R is 5/38. In Example 7, the height PTH is 13 mm, and the value R is 13/38.

  Next, according to the value R calculated in S71, the arrangement angle of the print target and the number N of print targets are set. In Specific Example 7, the value R is 13/38, and the value R is 1/3 or more (S73: YES). 0 degree is set as the arrangement angle of the print object, and 1 is set as the number N of print objects (S75). When the value R is equal to or greater than 1/4 and less than 1/3 (S73: NO, S77: YES), 180 degrees is set as the print target arrangement angle, and 2 is set as the number N of print targets (S79). ). When the value R is 1/6 or more and less than ¼ (S73: NO, S77: NO, S81: YES), 120 degrees is set as the print target arrangement angle, and 3 is set as the number N of print targets. (S83). In the specific example 6, the value R is 5/38, and the value R is 1/8 or more and less than 1/6 (S73: NO, S77: NO, S81: NO, S85: YES). Therefore, 90 degrees is set as the arrangement angle of the print target, and 4 is set as the number N of print targets (S87). When the value R is less than 1/8 (S73: NO, S77: NO, S81: NO, S85: NO), the print target arrangement angle is set to 60 degrees and the print target number N is set to six. (S89). After S75, S79, S83, S87, or S89, the process returns to the first printing process of FIG.

  In S19 of FIG. 6, the number N of print targets set in the angle specifying process is specified based on one print target designated by the user. In the sixth specific example, the character “Cable A” is specified as the first print target 573, the second print target 574, the third print target 575, and the fourth print target 576. In the specific example 7, the character “Cable (line feed) PC” is specified as the print target 673.

  In S29 of FIG. 6, an interval D between the Nth print target and the (N + 1) th print target is set (S29). The interval D of the specific example 6 is 9.5 mm. In Specific Example 7, since the number N of print targets specified in S19 is 1, the interval D is 0 mm.

  Specific example 6 is arranged like C23 of FIG. 9 by the printing process of the fourth embodiment. In the sixth specific example, the first print target 573, the second print target 574, the third print target 575, and the fourth print target 576 are arranged at equal intervals of the interval D. When the print tape 257 of the specific example 6 is wound around the cable 60 so that the length direction of the print tape corresponds to the circumference-corresponding direction, the arrangement angle (for example, each print object with respect to the adjacent print object on the reference surface) The angle 363 formed by the reference line segment 578 and the target line segment 580 is 90 degrees.

  On the other hand, the specific example 7 is arranged as C24 in FIG. In the seventh specific example, the distance between the center line in the height direction of the print target 673 and the center line 241 in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print area is set to 0 mm. When the printed print tape 257 is wound around the cable 60 so that the length direction of the print tape corresponds to the circumferential direction, the angle formed by the reference line segment 678 and the target line segment 680 is 0 degree. is there.

  According to the printing apparatus 1 of the fourth embodiment, the size of the print area (circumference length) and the size of the print target are compared, and the arrangement angle of the print target on the reference plane orthogonal to the central axis line Is automatically identified based on the comparison result. For this reason, the printing apparatus 1 can reliably avoid a situation in which the interval between a plurality of print targets is set too narrow or too wide. The printing apparatus 1 can place the print target in a well-balanced manner in the print area, assuming that the user does not need to directly specify the arrangement angle and the printed print medium is arranged on the curved surface of the cylinder. Furthermore, when the printing target is a character of a plurality of lines, the printing apparatus 1 sets the size of the entire character of the plurality of lines as the size of the printing target. For this reason, the printing apparatus 1 can specify the angle in the plane orthogonal to the central axis in consideration of the length of the circumference and the overall size of the characters in the plurality of lines. Moreover, the printing apparatus 1 can arrange | position a printing target so that the whole character of several lines can be recognized as a group.

  In the above embodiment, the CPU 401 that executes the process of S33 in FIG. 6 functions as the circumference length specifying means of the present invention. The CPU 401 that executes the process of S19 functions as a print target specifying unit of the present invention. The CPU 401 that executes the process of S37 in FIG. 6 or S75, S79, S83, S87, and S89 in FIG. 10 functions as an angle specifying unit of the present invention. The CPU 401 that executes S41 or S45 of FIG. 6 functions as an arrangement determining unit of the present invention. The CPU 401 that executes the process of S27 in FIG. 6 functions as a print area specifying unit of the present invention. The CPU 401 that executes the process of S25 or S55, S59, and S61 of FIG. 8 functions as a size specifying unit of the present invention. The CPU 401 that executes the process of S39 in FIG. 6 functions as a determination unit of the present invention. The CPU 401 that designates the number of print targets in S19 of the third embodiment functions as a number designation unit of the present invention. The CPU 401 that executes the processes of S71, S73, S77, S81, and S85 in FIG. 10 functions as a comparison unit of the present invention.

  The printing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modifications (A) to (I) may be added as appropriate.

  (A) The printing apparatus may be any apparatus that can print a print target on a print medium. The print medium may be appropriately selected according to the type of the printing apparatus, and may be, for example, paper and a plastic sheet in addition to the tape-shaped print medium. Although the side surface 61 of the cable 60 is illustrated as the curved surface of the cylinder on which the printed print medium is arranged, the curved surface of the cylinder may be changed as appropriate. For example, the curved surface on which the print medium is disposed may be an inner side surface of a cylinder, a side surface of a polygonal column that can be approximated to a cylindrical side surface, or a virtual cylindrical curved surface. May be. The print target is not limited to a character, and may be a symbol, a barcode, a graphic, and an image.

  (B) The method for specifying the length of the circumference may be changed as appropriate. For example, a value designated by the user may be specified as the circumference length, or the circumference length may be specified based on the cylinder radius input by the user.

  (C) The method for specifying the print target may be changed as appropriate. For example, when two print targets are specified, the first print target and the second print target may be different characters (for example, “Cable A” and “PC”). Further, for example, when the print target is a character extending over a plurality of lines, the characters on each line may be regarded as separate print targets. Based on one print target designated by the user, a method for specifying a print target when a plurality of print targets is specified may be changed as appropriate. The direction corresponding to the circumference of the print target may be set in advance or may be selected by the user. Further, for example, the circumference corresponding direction of the print target may be automatically set in consideration of the size of the print area, the size of the print target, and the like.

  (D) The method for specifying the print area may be changed as appropriate. For example, the print area may be set as a value input by the user in the width direction of the print medium. For example, when a printing paper having a predetermined size is used as the printing medium, the printing area may be set according to the size of the printing paper. Further, for example, the user may specify at least one of the length in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print region and the length in the direction corresponding to the stretching. In this case, for example, the user may specify the length of the print area in the circumference-corresponding direction using the angle of the other end with respect to the one end, similarly to the arrangement angle. The direction corresponding to the circumference of the print area may be set in advance or may be selected by the user. Further, for example, the circumference-corresponding direction of the print area may be automatically set in consideration of the size of the print target and the circumference length.

  (E) The method of specifying the number N of print targets may be changed as appropriate. For example, when the length of the print medium in the direction corresponding to the circumference is equal to or greater than the length of the circumference, the number of print targets may be obtained based on the arrangement angle specified in S37. Specifically, for example, a value obtained by truncating a value obtained by dividing 360 degrees by the arrangement angle may be set as the number N.

  (F) The method for specifying the size of the object to be printed may be changed as appropriate. For example, when a plurality of print targets are specified, the format and size of each print target may be different. Further, for example, when the print target is a character extending over a plurality of lines, the size of the print target may be specified by regarding the characters on each line as separate print targets. Furthermore, the size of the print target set in the print target size specifying process in FIG. 8 may be changed as appropriate.

  (G) The method for specifying the angle may be changed as appropriate. For example, the reference point and the representative point may be specified by the user or may be set in advance. Specifically, the reference point may be one of an end point and a center point in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print medium or the print target. The representative point may be one of an end point and a center point in the direction corresponding to the circumference of the print target. When the arrangement angle is specified based on the comparison result between the size of the print area and the size of the print target as in the fourth embodiment, the value of the specified angle may be changed as appropriate. For example, when two or more arrangement angles are set for three or more print targets, different arrangement angles may be specified.

  (H) When it is not necessary to fit the print target in the print area, the processes of S39, S43 and S45 in FIG. 6 may be omitted. Further, when the print target is stored in the print area, for example, when it is determined in S39 of FIG. 6 that the print target does not fit in the print area (S39: NO), the area between the representative point and the reference point is determined. At least one process of shortening the distance and reducing the size of the print target may be executed (S43). By reducing the size of the print target (S43), if the print target is arranged so as to be within the print area (S45), the condition of the print angle specified in S37 is given priority. The arrangement can be determined. A combination of reducing the interval D and reducing the size of the print target (S43) When the print target is placed within the print area (S45), the size of the print target and the placement angle In consideration of the balance, it is possible to determine the arrangement of the print target.

  (I) The method for determining the arrangement of print targets may be changed as appropriate. For example, in the arrangement of the specific example 1 shown by C11 in FIG. 7, the first print object 73 and the second print object 74 are set to one with the distance between the center line 49 and the center line 51 set to the interval D. It may be regarded as a printing target, and the one printing target may be arranged on the paper surface or aligned on the paper surface. Even in such an arrangement, the distance between the reference point and the target point can be set to the interval D.

1 Printing Device 23 Detection Unit 401 CPU
402 ROM
403 CGROM
404 RAM
409 Flash memory

Claims (6)

A printing apparatus for printing a print target on a print medium,
A circumferential length specifying means for specifying the circumferential length of the cylinder when the print medium is arranged along the curved surface of the cylinder;
A print target specifying means for specifying the print target;
A reference line segment connecting the central axis and a reference point on the curved surface in a plane orthogonal to the central axis of the cylinder when the printing object is arranged on the print medium along the curved surface; and the central axis And an angle specifying means for specifying an angle of an angle formed by a target line segment connecting the representative point of the print target;
An arrangement determining means for determining an arrangement of the print object specified by the print object specifying means based on the length of the circumference specified by the circumference specifying means and the angle specified by the angle specifying means; A printing apparatus comprising: Print area specifying means for specifying a print area of the print medium;
Size specifying means for specifying the circumferential length of the object to be printed, and
The arrangement determining means includes the circumference specified by the circumference specifying means, the angle specified by the angle specifying means, and the circumferential length of the print target specified by the size specifying means. The distance between the representative point and the reference point is set based on the above, and the print target is arranged in the print area specified by the print area specifying means. The printing apparatus as described. The size of the print area specified by the print area specifying means, the length of the circumference specified by the circumference length specifying means, the angle specified by the angle specifying means, and the size specified by the size specifying means Based on the circumferential length of the print object, further comprising a determination means for determining whether the print object is within the print region;
The arrangement determination unit shortens the distance between the representative point and the reference point when the determination unit determines that the print target does not fit in the print area, and the print The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing object is arranged in the printing region by at least one of reducing a length of the object in a circumferential direction . A number designating unit for designating the number of print targets;
The size specifying means specifies a circumferential length of the print object based on the number of the print objects specified by the number specifying means and the size of the print area specified by the print area specifying means. ,
The arrangement determining means includes the circumference specified by the circumference specifying means, the angle specified by the angle specifying means, and the circumferential length of the print target specified by the size specifying means. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the number of the print targets specified by the number specifying unit is arranged in the print area specified by the print region specifying unit. Comparing means for comparing the size of the print area specified by the print area specifying means with the length in the circumferential direction of the print target specified by the size specifying means,
The angle specifying means, based on the comparison result of the comparing means, the printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that identifying the angle. When the print target is a character of a plurality of lines, the size specifying means sets the length in the circumferential direction of the characters in the plurality of lines as the length in the circumferential direction of the print target. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

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